Folding truss

ABSTRACT

A folding truss is disclosed wherein the main beam member in a fully opened condition is arranged in a straight line and in a folded condition is disposed to be compacted to lay in an accordian style. The members providing the straight beam are hinged so as to mate and engage each other in an end-to-end arrangement when the beam is fully opened. A series of connected support arms are pivotally mounted on pins secured to the midportions of the main beam members. The connected support arms are pivotally connected at their ends to each other and when the main beam members are in the straight line fully opened condition the support members, which are longer than the main beam members, are disposed in a zig-zag pattern which may be about a 30 to 40* angle or slope to the axis of the main straight beam.

United States Patent 1 [1 1 3,729,877 Hall 1451 May 1, 1973 1 FOLDINGTRUSS Primary ExqminerFrank L. Abbott [76] Inventor: Raymond L. Hall, 19Hamilton Assistant Examiner-Leslie Bran Court pp y NJ. 0798]Attorney-Ralph R. Roberts [22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1971 57 ABSTRACT Appl.No.: 184,758

A folding truss is disclosed wherein the main beam member in a fullyopened condition is arranged in a straight line and in a foldedcondition is disposed to be compacted to lay in an accordian style. Themembers providing the straight beam are hinged so as to mate and engageeach other in an end-to-end arrangement when the beam is fully opened. Aseries of connected support arms are pivotally mounted on pins securedto the mid-portions of the main beam members. The connected support armsare pivotally connected at their ends to-each other and when the mainbeam members are in the straight line fully opened condition the supportmembers, which are longer than the main beam members, are disposed in azig-zag pattern which may be about a 30 to 40 angle or slope to the axisof the main straight beam.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 1973 INVENTOR. RAYMOND L HALL AGENT FOLDING TRUSS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION truss-adjustable; thesubclass identified as truss-exl0 pansion device; the subclassidentified as girder and the subclass identified as lazy tongs."

Pertinent art may also be found in the general class of StaticStructures" and the subclass under openwork" which subclass is furtheridentified as components adjustably or collapsibly connected.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the construction of covers andextensible beams it is often highly desirable that straight linesupports or the straight compression beam or straight tension memberhave folding properties which permit reasonably compact storage fortransportation and for covering and uncovering determined areas. Forexample, where two beams are to provide a support for a surface such asa walk-way or as'a support for a conveyor, which units after use arefolded for storage in a truck or the like, it is desirable that thestraight member be supported at a minimum number of points while thetension member or support is able to be folded into the minimum spaceforstorage. In particular, covers for swimming pools or other open areasusually require a side retaining means in order to be retained in thedesired condition. However, during substantial portions of use they areto be folded so that the general area may be exposed to the sun and thenatural environment, hence, the storage space for the cover should be aslittle as possible. In the extended condition when in or ready for usesuch covers may be subject to loads of snow and be subjected to rain andwind which require that the strength member have a determined capacity.Where the strength member is to act as a support for a bridge, aconveyor or like support surface which is to be foldable, it is alsodesirable that the straight compressive beam have sufficient strength tobe supported on two selected points. These two or more support pointsmay be any convenient place along the truss or beam which would benormally used with a straight beam.

Sissor-like members which expand and contract in a straight line inaccordance with accordian-pleated principles have equal length legs andwhen they are expanded to a determined length they do not have therigidity of a single member beam. The present invention provides abeam-like member which may be used as either a tension or a compressionmember in that in its fully opened or extended condition one of thetruss members is a straight member. The other truss members are supportarms which, like theconventional truss, lay in diagonal patterns inrelation to the main beam member. The truss of this invention resemblesthe usual sissor-like construction only during the folded or partiallyerect condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention may be summarized at least inpart by references to its objects. It is an object of this invention toprovide and it does provide, a folding truss or beam which in its fullyopened condition has one member as a straight member while thesupporting members are arranged in a connected zigzag manner.

It is a further object of this invention to provide and it does provide,a folding truss or beam wherein as a tension or compression member oneof the connected series of members is caused to be brought to a straightcondition. In a tension capacity the straight members may limit theexpansion of the accordian-type supporting members.

The folding truss or beam of this invention may be used or arranged inlike pairs of miltiples thereof sothat in its fully opened condition oneof the series of connected members becomes a straight compression ortension member with a series of pivotally connected supporting memberportions arranged in a zig-zag manner to support and control theattitude of the straight line beam portion. This folding beam portion ishinged at the connected ends. When the straight beam portion is broughtto its folded condition it lays or is disposed in an accordian manner.In a straight line fully expanded condition the straight beam membersare end-to-end connected.

In addition to the above summary the following disclosure is detailed toinsure adequacy and aid in understanding of the invention. Thisdisclosure, however, is not intended to prejudice that purpose of apatent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matterhow it may later be disguised by variations in form or additions offurther improvements. For this reason there has been chosen a specificembodiment of the folding truss as adopted for use as a beam-likesupport member and showing a preferred means for opening and folding thetruss.

This specific embodiment has been chosen for the purposes ofillustration and description as shown in the accompanying drawingwherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 represents a side view of afully opened folding truss assembly of this invention;

FIG. 2 represents a side view of the folding truss of FIG. 1 but in apartially folded condition, and

FIG. 3 represents a side view of the folding truss of FIG. 1 and 2 nowin the fully folded condition.

In the following description and in the claims various details will beidentified by specific names for convenience, these names, however, areintendedto be generic in their application. Corresponding referencecharacters refer to like members throughout the three figures of thedrawing.

The drawing accompanying, and forming part of, this specificationdiscloses certain details of construction for the purpose of explanationof the broader aspects of the invention, but it should be understoodthat structural details may be modified in various respects withoutdeparture from the concept and principles of the invention and that theinvention may be incorporated in other structural forms than shown.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 Referring now to the preferred embodimentof FIG. 1 there is shown a folding truss which is depicted as being inits fully opened condition. The straight beam portion, as illustrated,includes four like members identified as 10, 11, 12 and 13. Member ishingedly attached at its right end to and by hinge 15 to the left end ofmember 11. Member 11 is hingedly attached at its right end to and byhinge 16 to the left end of member 12. Member 12, in turn, is hingedlyattached to and at its right end by hinge 17 to the left end of member13. In this preferred embodiment the pin of the hinges 15 and 17 aredisposed above the beam members while the pin of the hinge 16 is locatedbelow the beam. Members 10, ll, 12 and 13 when in the straight conditionbecome the beam member providing the tension or compression member.

Still referring to FIG. 1 it is to be noted that midlength of each ofthe members 10, 11, 12 and 13 are provided pivot pins 20, 21, 22 and 23.On these pins are pivotally mounted support arms 26, 27, 28 and 29. Arms26 and 27 are pivotally connected at their ends by pin 32. The other orright end of arm 27 is pivotally connected to the left end of arm 28 bypin 34. The right end of arm 28 is pivotally connected to the left endof arm 29 by pin 36. A retaining bearing block 40 is pivotally mountedon arm 28 at a point a short distance from the pivot pin 36. A nutmember 42 is pivotally mounted on support arm 29 at a short distance tothe right of pivot pin 36. A lead screw member 44 is rotatably mountedin the bearing block 40 so as to be axially retained in this bearingblock while the threaded portion of the screw is threadedly retained inthe nut member 42 so as to move this nut member back and forth on thescrew as the screw is rotated. A handle 46 is provided on the right orouter end of screw 44 to provide means for the screw to be rotated tocause nut 42 to be moved closer or further from the retaining bearing40.

In FIG. 2, as seen, the folding truss or beam is in a partially foldedcondition wherein handle 46 has been turned to cause screw 44 to drawnut member 42 towards the bearing block 40. As this movement occurs thesupport arms 28 and 29 are drawn towards each other to provide a moreacute angle between the arms. At the same time, arms 27 and 26 are drawnto a like more acute angle. As this occurs the beam portions 10, 11, 12and 13 are caused to be moved from their open condition of FIG. 1 to thecondition of FIG. 2. In this period of movement the members are movedaround the hinge pins provided by hinges I5, 16 and 17. In the moving ofthe truss and the beam portions from its fully opened condition to theaccordian condition of FIG. 2 the support beams 26, 27, 28 and 29 areequally moved to cause the other beams l0, l1, l2 and 13 to act in astandard sissor manner. It is to be noted that the arms 26, 27, 28 and29 in their connected lengths are greater than the connected lengths ofthe members 10, ll, 12 and 13.

Referring now to FIG. 3 it is to be noted that the folding truss is inits substantially fully folded condition wherein the screw 44 has beenturned to bring nut 42 and bearing 40 to a close proximity. In this viewit is readily determined that the length of the arm portion 27 extendingfrom pivot 32 to pivot pin 21 is greater than the distance of the beammember 11 extending from hinge 16 to the pivot pin 21. This samerelationship of the beam member to the corresponding support arm occursthrough the rest of the embodiment so that when the screw 44 is rotatedto cause the truss to be brought to a fully opened condition as in FIG.1 the support members remain in a zig-zag array while the beam members10, 11, 12 and 13 are disposed in a straight line. In the fully closedcondition of FIG. 3 the support arm members extend beyond the beammembers.

USE AND OPERATION The truss of this invention provides means forproviding support beam members which are connected as by through pins20, 21, 22 and 23 or by means of other framing to a like truss wherebyin a fully ex panded condition the two expanded units provide a tensionor a compression support beam which may be supported at any two points.For example, at one end of the expanded unit and at one of the hingepoints such as point 34 which may, for example, have a roller upon it.The uses for a folding truss, of course, is myriad. A preferred use isfor a conveyor frame wherein the belt conveyor is to be collapsed forstorage and/or transport as, for example, into a truck or onto a loadingdock. As a support for a cover the supporting arms 26, 27, 28 and 29 maycarry the flexible cover which may, for example, bea swimming poolcover. The truss in its fully opened condition in FIG. 1 carries theflexible covering on the pins 20, 32, 21, 34, etc., with the coverportion extending across the top of the swimming pool and in itscollapsed condition the cover is caused to be folded to expose the poolto a normal use condition. Temporary bridges, walk-ways, platforms andthe like, of course, may be supported by this folding truss. Thisfolding principle may also be used to provide a boom or beam portion fora crane or the like.

It is also to be noted that instead of the screw 44, as

shown, it is possible to operate the folding of this mechanism bycausing a cable to be attached to one of the pins such as pin 32 or 36which will permit the weight to be supported while the folding truss iscollapsed to the condition of FIG. 3. By means of an auxillary supportand the attachment of one end of either beam member 10 or 13 to a fixedsupport the truss is enabled to be pulled to a fully opened condition orcollapsed to a folded condition as desired.

The number of beam members is merely a matter of selection as is alsotheir size and composition. A like number of support members are alsoneeded with the support members being a greater length than the beammembers. It is contemplated that with the beam members arranged in astraight line each support arm is at a slope angle which should be atleast 20 so that the folding movement of the support arms will not betoo difficult when causing the folding or unfolding to be done. Whetherused in pairs or other multiples, the folding truss provides a beammember which may be folded when desired.

The hinges 15, 16 and 17 are shown as the preferred means for connectingthe beam members 10, l1, l2 and 13 but it is to be noted that the beammembers may instead be lapped with a common pin through both members, asshown, with pin 32 and members 26 and 27. It is to be noted that thebeam members are to be pivotally or hingedly connected so as'to be movedinto a straight line as in FIG. 1.

Terms such as left,"

tom, top, in

right, up, down, botout and the like are applicable to the embodimentshown and described in conjunction with the drawing. These terms aremerely for the purposes of description and do not necessarily apply tothe position in which the folding truss may be constructed or used.

While a particular embodiment of the truss has been shown and describedit is to be understood the invention is not limited thereto sincemodifications may be made within the scope of the accompanying claimsand protection is sought to the broadest extent the prior art allows.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding truss assembly comprising: (a) a mu]- tiplicity of likelength beam members pivotally connected at their ends to each other in aseries and adapted to be fully opened to form a straight line and whenfolded are brought next their adjacent members in an accordian-likemanner; (b) a multiplicity of connecting arms comprising end andintermediate arms of the same number as the beam members, the connectingarms pivotally mounted on and at the mid-point of the beam members, saidconnecting arms also being pivotally connected to each other at theirends with the length of the intermediate connecting arm being greaterthan the beam member and the end connected arm portions being half thelength of the intermediate connecting arm, any intermediate arm from itspivot connection on the beam member to the pivot connection with thenext connecting arm being greater than the distance from the same pivotconnection of the connecting arm on the beam member to the pivotconnection of said beam member and to the pivot connection with the nextbeam member said connecting arms being disposed is a zig-zag manner whenthe beam members are opened to form a substantially straight line, (c)means (0) MEANS for moving the connecting arms around their pivotedconnections so as to move the series of beam members from a straightcondition to an accordion-like folded condition and vice versa.

2. A folding truss assembly as in claim I in which the beam members arehingedly connected at their ends so as to be disposed in an end-to-endrelationship.

3. A folding truss assembly as in claim 1 in which the means for movingthe connecting arms is a lead screw having one end rotatably mounted andaxially retained in a bearing block pivotally connected to one supportarm, said screw also having its threaded portion retained in a nutmember pivotally secured to an adjacent support arm.

4. A folding truss assembly as in claim 3 in which the lead screw has acrank handle mounted on one end so that said screw may be rotated.

5. A folding truss assembly as in claim 1 in which the slope of thesupport arms to the axis of the full-extended, straight line beammembers is an angle of at least 10.

6. A folding truss assembly as in claim 1 in which the slope of thesupport arms to the axis of the fully-extended straight line members isan angle of about 20.

7. A folding truss assembly as in claim 1 in which the ratio of thepivoted lengths ofa beam member to a connecting arm is about four tofive.

@ 3 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 37 9 77 Dated May 1513 a V 973 Inventor(s) Raymond L. Hall- It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Please change address of Applicant to read as follows 8 Knollwood Trail,E.

Brookside, New Jersey 07926 In the Abstract, next to last line, change"30" to read Col. 6, line delete"(c)means" first occurrence and change"MEANS" to read means Signed and sealed this 20th day of November 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M FLETCHER JR RENE D TEGTMEYER J Attesting Officer ActingCommissioner of Patents

1. A folding truss assembly comprising: (a) a multiplicity of likelength beam members pivotally connected at their ends to each other in aseries and adapted to be fully opened to form a straight line and whenfolded are brought next their adjacent members in an accordian-likemanner; (b) a multiplicity of connecting arms comprising end andintermediate arms of the same number as the beam members, the connectingarms pivotally mounted on and at the mid-point of the beam members, saidconnecting arms also being pivotally connected to each other at theirends with the length of the intermediate connecting arm being greaterthan the beam member and the end connected arm portions being half thelength of the intermediate connecting arm, any intermediate arm from itspivot connection on the beam member to the pivot connection with thenext connecting arm being greater thAn the distance from the same pivotconnection of the connecting arm on the beam member to the pivotconnection of said beam member and to the pivot connection with the nextbeam member said connecting arms being disposed is a zig-zag manner whenthe beam members are opened to form a substantially straight line, (c)means (c) MEANS for moving the connecting arms around their pivotedconnections so as to move the series of beam members from a straightcondition to an accordion-like folded condition and vice versa.
 2. Afolding truss assembly as in claim 1 in which the beam members arehingedly connected at their ends so as to be disposed in an end-to-endrelationship.
 3. A folding truss assembly as in claim 1 in which themeans for moving the connecting arms is a lead screw having one endrotatably mounted and axially retained in a bearing block pivotallyconnected to one support arm, said screw also having its threadedportion retained in a nut member pivotally secured to an adjacentsupport arm.
 4. A folding truss assembly as in claim 3 in which the leadscrew has a crank handle mounted on one end so that said screw may berotated.
 5. A folding truss assembly as in claim 1 in which the slope ofthe support arms to the axis of the full-extended, straight line beammembers is an angle of at least 10* .
 6. A folding truss assembly as inclaim 1 in which the slope of the support arms to the axis of thefully-extended straight line members is an angle of about 20* .
 7. Afolding truss assembly as in claim 1 in which the ratio of the pivotedlengths of a beam member to a connecting arm is about four to five.